TS
🎯 Process Overview
📌 Stages:
- Online Test
- Technical Interviews: 2 Rounds
📝 Online Test
The test was challenging for many candidates, but familiarity with the Striver DSA Sheet made it manageable.
🔹 Questions:
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Question 1 (Greedy):
- An easy greedy algorithm problem.
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Question 2 (Dynamic Programming):
- A 1D DP question that was straightforward for those with DP experience.
- The task was to find the maximum sum in an array with the option to either move sequentially or jump to prime numbers ending in 3.
- Solution involved memoization and setting up proper logic for jumps based on number properties.
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Question 3 (Graph):
- A directed cyclic graph problem.
- Initially thought to use Kahn’s algorithm due to the *directed nature, but it turned out to be a *simpler DFS-based solution as the graph was cyclic.
- *Partially solved, achieving **2.5/3 correct solutions, ranking *5th overall.
🔍 Observation: Some candidates were selected despite scoring lower, likely due to diversity and inclusion considerations.
🛠 Interview Rounds
🔹 Technical Interview — Round 1
📄 Resume:
- The interviewer had reviewed my resume but didn’t ask related questions, as is common with higher-paying companies focusing on skills over resumes in initial rounds.
📝 Questions:
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C Language Code with Pointers:
- Required to code using C pointers and memory allocation with malloc and calloc.
- I requested to use C++ due to syntax familiarity but was asked to proceed with *C, which *impacted my performance.
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Memory Allocation:
- Explained static, dynamic, and register memory allocation in C/C++.
- Follow-up: Discussed the storage of static and constant variables.
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Linked List:
- Tasked with reversing a linked list in k-sized parts.
- *Coded it from scratch, presented **two approaches, though faced *some issues.
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Copy Mechanisms:
- Explained shallow copy and deep copy.
💬 Feedback: The interviewer noted that performance on the first question significantly impacted their assessment.
❌ Verdict:
- Outcome: Not selected.
- Result: Five candidates were selected, chosen primarily for strong foundational skills.
🔍 Reflection and Advice:
- Interview Focus: Knowledge of *C language specifics, including **pointers and memory allocation, was *critical in this round.
- Suggested Prep Areas: Reviewing C syntax, memory management, and pointer usage could strengthen performance in similar high-level technical interviews.
